Arc-welding electrode holder



March 2.9, 1960 J; A. MONAX 2,930,884

ARC-WELDING ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed Sept. 9. 1957 3229 If x \J 2 r 24 INVENTOR, Jul: an 4. 4/000)- ARC-WELDING ELECTRODE HOLDER Julian A. Monax, Pasadena, Calif.

Application September 9, 1957, Serial No. 682,680

8 Claims. (Cl. 219-138) My invention relates to arc-welding electrode holders, and it has for a purpose the provision of such a holder which is characterized by an electrode clamping means that is quickly operable to securely clamp an electrode in the holder against accidental release, and yet can as quickly effect release of the electrode when desired.

Another purpose of my invention is to provide in an electrode holder an electrode clamping means which embodies a cam which is rotatable past a dead center position to cause a movable jaw to be moved toward a fixed jaw for securely clamping an electrode between the jaws Unite States Patent ice thereof in positions to release an electrode so that it may be removed from the holder or to permit the insertion of an electrode therein.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3. j

Referring more particularly to the drawings, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a casing C constructed of any suitable insulating material, such as vulcanized rubber, fiberglass plastic or the like, and made in two identical parts c1 and c2 detachably secured to each other by screws 14, so as to permit the insertion between such parts of the movable elements embodied in Patented Mar. 29, 1960 the holder, or removal thereof for replacement or repair.

The casing C is so constructed as to form a head 15 and a handle 16 which extends laterally from 'one side of the head at an angle thereto such that it is slanted rearwardly from the forward end of the head.

The head 15 is of tubular form to provide a longi tudinally extending bore 17, and fixed in this bore is a and to maintain the cam against accidental reverse rotation allowing the movable jaw to reversely rotate and unintentionally release the electrode. is so mounted in the handle of the holder that when the operator grips the handle to manipulate the electrode in welding, the lever is simultaneously held by the operators hand to further insure accidental reverse rotation of the cam and unintentional release of the electrode.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide in an electrode holder as above set forth, readily operable means in the handle which, by striking it against any solid object, rotates the cam to allow the movable jaw to release the electrode thereby permitting the latter to be removed from the holder or the insertion of another electrode. Simultaneously with this cam rotation the lever is swungto a position outwardly from the handle for subsequent movement manually toward the handle to reversely rotatethe cam back to a position in which it again Moreover, the lever moves and. holds the movable jaw in electrode clamping position.

Still another purpose of my invention is the provision of an electrode holder which embodies a casing having a head and a handlev extending laterally from the head, and the head containing in one end the electrode clamping jaws, and in the other end a cable attaching means where by the holder can be'manipulated in welding without the cable interfering therewith. Moreover, this arrangement of head and handle provides the additional advantage of allowing the holder to be used for long periods of time without the handle and lever becoming too hot to hold, since the cable-attaching means is so related to the handle that the heat generated by the current in its free end which opens to one edge of the handle.

passage from the cable to the electrode, cannot, to any appreciable extent, reach the lever and handle, and thus the latter remainrelatively cool at all times. 7

I will describe only one form of arc-welding electrode holder embodying my invention, and will thenpoint out p the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig 1 is 'a view showing in perspective one form of arc- 1 and converging top walls 27b.

ing material to prevent the possible transmission of e1e eshown in Fig. 2. The slot 19 terminates short of the inner end of the jaw 18 where it is formed with a cylin-.

bore 17 at this end is tapered to facilitate insert-ion of the cable. The opposite end of the head 15 is covered by a metal cap 25 secured thereto by screws 26, and which serves to protect such end against damage.

Contained within the slot 19 is a movable jaw 27 better shown in Fig. 5 as having parallel side walls 27a The jaw 27 is movable laterally and transversely within the slot 19 to occupy a gripping or releasing position with respect to an electrode 28 interposed between the jaws, and, of course,

'whenin gripping position is adapted to securely retain the electrode within the holder through coaction of the j.

top walls 19b and 27b of the jaws.

As best shown in Fig. 5, the jaw 27 is so mounted through the provision of a pin 29 which, at its upper 3 end, isvertically held with-in the jaw 19 so as to prevent accidental displacement thereof, while its lower portionl 32 in the confronting sides of the casing sections. Asa result the pin is held against lateral movement in the casing, and both jaws 19 and 27 against axial movement 1 in the head 15.

The handle 16 is formed with a pocket 35 adjacent its l The 5 handle is also formed with a passage 36 which, at one end, i communicates with the pocket 35 and at the'other end with the bore 17 of the head 15. Additionally, the free end of the handle is formed with an opening 37.. which N leads to the lower end of the pocket 35.

' For moving the movable jaw 27 from the electrode releasing position as shown in Fig. 4 to ,the electrode"; gripping position shown in Fig. .3, the following mechanism is provided:

Movable longitudinally within the passage 36-is a metal plunger 38, one end 38a being rounded and the other; end 38b fiat. Also within the passage 36 is a coiled; spring 39 one end of which is seated in a recess 40 in the jaw 27, while the other end abuts a member 41 of insulatposition of the plunger 38 as'shown in Fig. 4, it is'not under tension so that the movable jaw 27 is free to gravitate to electrode-releasing position; However, when the plunger 36 is moved to the elevated position shown in Fig. 3 the spring 39 is placed under such tension as to force the jaw 27 to electrode gripping position.

For moving the plunger to elevated position, a bell crank lever 42'is provided having a long arm 43 and a short arm 44. Between these arms the lever is formed with a cam 45 shaped to provide a convex surface 46, a concave surface47, and a rounded point 48 between the two surfaces. The short arm 44 projects from one end of the-convex surface 46 to provide a detent 49.

By means of a pintle 54? which extends transversely through the pocket 35 the lever 42 is fulcrurned in the handle 16 for movement to occupy the two extreme positions" shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and the cam 45 rotatably mounted in the pocket to occupy corresponding positions. In that position of the lever shown in Fig. 4 the'arm 43 is extended from the handle 16 at substantiallyright angles thereto, and the cam 45 is in a circumferential position such that the rounded end 33a of the plunger 38 is in contact with that end of the cam surface 46 adjacent the detent s9.

Inthe other extreme position of the lever 42 the arm 43"is1parallel to and abuts one edgeof the handle 16, and the cam 45 is in a circumferential position such that the rounded end of'the plunger 33 reposes onrthe cam, point 48. In this position of the cam the detent 49 is directly over the inner end of the opening 37 to be engaged by the inner end of a double, headed pin 53. slidable in the opening 37.

In the use ofthe holder an electrode 23 can be inserted between the jaws 18. and Z7 whenthe jaw 27 is in the lowered position shown in Fig. 4 since the spring 39 is not compressed because the plunger 38 is in its lowermost position by reason of the cam 45 occupying the position shown. To clamp the electrode 28 between the jaws the lever arm 43 is swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig; 3 thereby rotating the cam 45 and causing the plunger 38 to be forced upwardly in the passage to compress the spring39 and urge the jaw 27 to electrodegripping position.

It is importantto note that in this position of the cam the plunger rests on the cam surface 48 at a point which ispast dead center inrelation to the minor axis of the pintle 40, and the major axis of the plunger 38. Since the plunger continues to be urged by the spring against the cam point 48 the spring functions tomaintain the cam in such positionthereby. preventing accidental movement of the jaw 27 to non-gripping position with respect to the electrode.

In the position of the cam 45 shown in Fig. 3 the detent 49 is disposed adjacent the inner end of the pin 51. Thus to rotate. the cam and the lever back to the original position shown in Fig. 4 it is only necessary that the pin 51 be forced inwardly which can be readily done by striking the pin against any solid surface, whereby the detent 49 will" be actuated to rotate the. cam counter,- clockwise until the detent abuts the plunger 38.

The holder'in use is, adapted to; be held in the hand of the operator as illustrated in Fig. 1, wherein the fingers in grasping'the handle 16' extend across-the lever, arm 43 so that should. the pin, 51 he accidentally struck s'o' as-to force it inwardlyagainst the detent 49 and thus rotate the cam and the lever to the positions shown in Fig. 4, to'unintentionally release theelectrode, suchmovement of the leverwill be restrained by the operators ngers: to maintain, the jaws in electrode gripping position;

Another: important. feature of. my. holder is the relationship of the head, handle and cable which, when the 4, handle is' gripped by the operator in the manenr-shown, the cable extends rearwardly from the head above the hand and rearwardly to either side of the arm as desired.

' Thus the cable does not interfere with free manipulation of the holder in welding. Also, it permits the holder to be used continuously for long periods of time without the handle or the lever 42 becoming too hot to hold, because the heatproduced by the current in its flow from the cable through the metal elements in the head 15 to the electrode 28, cannot, to any appreciable extent, be transmitted to the handle or the lever.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of arc-welding electrode holder embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is: v

1. An electrode holder, including: a casing of insulating material having a head and a handle; the head having an axial bore; a socket of conductingmaterial in one end of said bore; a conducting cable secured in the socket; a head fixed on the socket; a fixed jaw of conducting material in the other end of said bore and having a socket in which the head is secured; a movable jaw in said bore opposite the fixed jaw; means mounting the movable jaw in said bore for movement laterally to grip or release an electrode extended between said jaws; a springin the handle one end of which bears against the outer side of the movable jaw; a plunger in the handle at the other end of. the spring; a member of insulating material between the plunger and the spring; a lever fulcrumed in the handle to occupy a first position in which it is at an angle to the handle, and a second position in which it is substantially parallel to the handle; a camfixed on the lever and engaging the plunger so that by movement of the lever to the second position the plunger will be moved to compress the spring and force the movable jaw to an electrode-gripping position, and upon movement of the lever to the first position the cam .allows the spring to expand permitting the movable jaw v to move to an electrode-releasing position; a detent on the cam within the handle; and a member movable in the free end of the handle to occupy projected and retracted positions and correlated with the detent so that when moved to, retracted position the detent will be actuated to rotate the cam and thus move the lever from the second position to the first position thereby causing the cam to relieve the spring of compression and thus 'allow the movable jaw to move to electrodereleasing position. V

2. An electrode holder as embodied in claim 1', wherein the. cam and the plunger are so constructed and arranged that the lever is retained in the second position and only movable to the first position by movement of the member to retracted position.

3. An electrode holder, including: a casing of insulating material having a head and a handle; the head having an axial bore; a socket of conducting material in one endof said bore; means for securing one end of a conducting cable in the socket; a fixed jaw of conducting material in the other end of said bore. and secured to the socket; a movable jaw in said bore opposite the fixed jaw; rneans mounting the movable jaw in said bore for movement laterally to grip or release an electrode extended between said jaws; a spring in the handle, one end oiiwhich. bears against'the outer side of the movable jaw; a plunger in the handle at the other end of the spring; a member of insulating material between the plunger and the spring; a lever fulcrumed in the handle to occupy afirst position in which it is at, an,

moved to compress the spring and force the movable jaw to an electrode-gripping position, and upon movement of the lever to the first position the cam allows the spring to expand permitting the movable jaw to move to an electrode-releasing position; a detent on the lever Within the handle; and a member movable in the free end of the handle to occupy projected and retracted positions and correlated with the detent so that when moved to retracted position the detent will be actuated to rotate the cam and the lever from the second position to the first position thereby causing the cam to relieve the spring of compression and thus allow the movable jaw to move to electrode-releasing position.

4. An electrode holder as embodied in claim 3, wherein the cam and the plunger are so constructed and arranged that the lever is retained in the second position and only movable to the first position by movement of the member to retracted position.

5. An electrode holder, including: a casing having a head and an integral handle projecting laterally from the head between the ends thereof; a fixed jaw in the head; a movable jaw in the head movable to grip or release an electrode extended between the jaws; means in the handle movable in one direction or the other for moving the movable jaw to electrode-gripping or releasing position, and for securing the movable jaw in electrode-gripping position; a detent on said means; and a pin movable in and projecting from the free end of the handle, the pin movable inwardly of the handle to so actuate the detent as to move said means in that direction to cause the movable jaw to occupy electrodereleasing position.

6. An electrode holder, including: a casing having a head and an integral handle; a fixed jaw in the head; a movable jaw in the head movable to grip or release an electrode extended betwen the jaws; a lever fulcrumed in the handle; a cam fixed to the lever; a plunger'movable in the handle and engaging the cam; a spring in the handle between the plunger and the movable jaw for urging the plunger against the cam, the cam having surfaces which operate under rotation of the cam in one direction by swinging the lever toward the handle to move the plunger in a direction such as to compress the spring and thereby cause the latter to move the movable jaw to electrode-gripping position, and when the cam reaches a circumferential position in which one o! the cam surfaces has passed a dead center position in relation to the lever fulcrum and the plunger, and the lever abuts the handle, the cam, spring and plunger coact to maintain the movable jaw in electrode-gripping position; and a member movable in the handle to rotate the cam in the other direction and thus swing the lever outwardly from the handle thereby allowing the plunger to move in the other direction and the spring to expand permitting the movable jaw to move to electrodereleasing position.

7. An electrode holder, including a casing having a head and a handle fixed at one end to the head and projecting laterally therefrom at a point between its ends; a fixed jaw in the head; a movable jaw in the head movable to grip or release an electrode extended between the jaws; means in the handle movable in one direction or the other for moving the movable jaw to electrodegripping or releasing position, and for securing the movable jaw in electrode-gripping position, said means including a rotatable member; a detent on said member; and a pin movable in and projecting from the free end of the handle, the pin movable inwardly of the handle to so rotate said member through the detent as to move said means in that direction to cause the movable jaw to occupy electrode-releasing position, the pin also movable outwardly of the handle by the detent, when said means is actuated to move the movable jaw to electrodegripping position.

8. An electrode holder as embodied in claim 6, wherein the handle extends laterally from the head between the ends thereof; the fixed jaw is in one end of the head; the member is located in and projects from the free end of the handle; and a cable-securing means in the other end of the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,304,321 Wagner Dec. 8, 1942 2,338,913 Esposito Jan. 11, 1944 2,356,054 Hill Aug. 15, 1944 2,358,800 Fuller Sept. 26, 1944 2,396,870 McLean Mar. 19, 1946 2,504,607 Wells Apr. 18, 1950 

